Akbar, who resigned as Union minister on October 17 last year, filed a private criminal defamation complaint against Ramani after his name cropped up on social media as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India.

Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago, an allegation he has denied.

After Akbar filed a defamation case against Ramani, 19 former and current employees of The Asian Agecame out in her support.